International Conference

«Conflicts in the Caucasus: History, the Present and Prospects for Resolution»

Baku (Azerbaijan) 22-23 October, 2012 and Tbilisi (Georgia) 25-26 October, 2012

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CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS FOR 2005

Politics

Afghanistan

1 January	—Representatives of the northern provinces gather in Mazar-i-Sharif to protest unjust, in their opinion, distribution of portfolios in Karzai’s new cabinet.
17 January	—The head of state appoints the Central Election Commission to prepare and carry out parliamentary elections.
20 January	—Leader of the Afghan Uzbeks General Dustom escapes with his life in a terrorist act in Sibergan.
February	—Four prominent Taliban leaders side with the government.
March	—Two new opposition parties—New Afghanistan and the National Authority Party—appear, later to be united into the National Reconciliation Front of Afghanistan under opposition leader Yunos Qanuni.
10-12 May	—Mass rallies protesting against the defilement of the Koran perpetrated by Americans employed at the Guantanamo base (Cuba).
29 May	—Abdullah Fayaz, prominent Muslim theologian and chairman of the Ulema Council of Afghanistan, dies in a terrorist act in Kandahar.
1 June	—Terrorist act is carried out in the Abdul Rab Ahundzada Mosque in Kandahar during the funeral service of Abdullah Fayaz.
5 August	—Former defense minister in the communist government of Najibullah’s General S. Tanai, who fled to Pakistan in March 1990 after an aborted anti-presidential riot, arrives in Kabul.
August	—Former communists and those Taliban leaders who have sided with the government join the election race.
18 September	—Elections to the parliament and provincial councils take place.
27 September	—Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Ahmed Jalali resigns from his post.
19 December	—Swearing-in ceremony and first sitting of the parliament (National Assembly).

Republic of Armenia

10 February	—Aram Karapetian, leader of the New Times Party, announces that his party is prepared to launch a national revolution.
16 February	—Ovannes Ovannisian, head of the Liberal Progressive Party of Armenia (LPPA), holds a press conference.
29 March	—Hearings on Nagorno-Karabakh begin at the National Assembly.
13 April	—The opposition Justice bloc marks the first anniversary of the dispersal of a rally with a For the Sake of Democracy Forum.
15 April	—The opposition Republic Party meets for its congress.
31 August	—Artashes Gegamian, chairman of the National Unity opposition faction, calls on the nation to vote “no” at the referendum on the Constitution.
1 September	—The parliament passes the constitutional amendments in the second reading.
5 September	—The New Times Party issues a statement on the set of amendments.
9 September	—Vazgen Manukian, NDU chairman, suggests that two of the three parties in the ruling coalition should leave it.
20 September	—The Zharangutiun (Heritage) Party issues its “no” statement.
20 September	—16 political organizations and the Forum of the Country’s Intelligentsia issue a statement about their cooperation.
4 October	—President Kocharian issues a decree setting the referendum date for 27 November.
13 October	—The president meets the council members of the progovernment political coalition.
18 October	—21 political parties call on the nation to vote “yes” to the constitutional amendments draft.
25 October	—The Republic Party organizes its extraordinary congress in the open in front of the Matenadaran, the depository of ancient manuscripts.
27 October	—The U.S. ambassador to Armenia announces that his country has begun preparations for the 2007 election in Armenia.
29 October	—Seventeen opposition parties organize a car race between Erevan and Shirak with rallies and other events in Artik, Maralik, and Giumri.
3 November	—President Kocharian meets with professors and students of Erevan State University.
8 November	—Representatives of the People’s Party (S. Demirchian among them) take part in a sitting of the 17 + 1 opposition headquarters.
9 November	—A seminar on dual citizenship in Armenia is held in the Congress Hotel.
10 November	—The Dashink (Union) Party of Samvel Babaian meets for its constituent congress.
10 November	—The Vanadzor office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly issues a statement.
10 November	—The Armenian National Movement board meets for its sitting.
11 November	—The National Revival Party holds its constituent congress.
15 November	—The National Unity Party, the People’s Party, and the 18 + 1 headquarters agree on a joint boycott of the referendum.
21 November	—Raffi Ovannisian, leader of the Heritage Party, makes a statement about his non-confidence in the government.
21 November	—Artashes Gegamian, leader of the opposition National Unity Party, holds a press conference.
21 November	—18 + 1 opposition headquarters meets for its sitting.
24 November	—Vazgen Manukian, leader of the National Democratic Union, holds a press conference.
25 November	—Raffi Ovannisian, head of the Heritage Party calls a Meeting of Citizens on the square before the State Opera.
25 November	—The president gives an interview to all central TV channels.
27 November	—The referendum on constitutional amendments is held.
28 November	—PACE observers publish their conclusions on the referendum results.
29 November	—The united opposition holds a meeting in Erevan.
2 December	—The EU ambassadors receive members of the Armenian opposition in the U.K. embassy.
5 December	—At the National Assembly sitting, the Justice faction organizes the collection of signatures to set up a parliamentary commission to investigate numerous violations during the referendum.
17 December	—The Republican Party meets for its congress.
19 December	—The New Times non-parliamentary opposition party meets for its congress.
19 December	—Speaker of the National Assembly Artur Bagdasarian sends a letter to the General Prosecutor’s Office.

Azerbaijan Republic

20 January	—Mourning events are organized across the country on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the January 1990 tragedy when punitive detachments of the Soviet army were sent into the capital, producing hundreds of victims and wounded.
23 February	—The President addresses the nation on the 13th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide: in 1992, the town was razed to the ground by Armenian armed detachments.
2 March	—Editor-in-Chief of the Monitor E. Guseynov is murdered.
18 March and 12 April	—Two opposition blocs—Azadlyg and Yeni siyasiat—are formed.
20 March and 20 June	—The president issues decrees On the Amnesty of Some of Those Sentenced to Imprisonment.
25 April,	—PACE, the European Parliament, and the House of Representatives of the
10 June,	U.S. Congress pass resolutions insisting on fair elections in Azerbaijan.
20 July
4 May	—The government and the opposition enter into a direct dialog on the election law.
7 May	—The Milli Mejlis adopts a Declaration on the Anniversary of the Occupation of Shusha.
11 May	—The president signs a decision On Improving Election Practices.
21 May	—The journalists of Azerbaijan meet for their Third Congress.
12 June	—A Joint Commission is set up made of members of the president’s administration, parliamentary deputies, and members of human rights organizations to find out whether there had been arrests for political reasons.
23 June	—A group of well-known and respected intellectuals addresses the public to warn against possible post-election clashes.
28 June	—The Milli Mejlis endorses the president-initiated amendments to the Election Code.
13 July	—The government and the press sign the Memorandum on Mutual Understanding.
22 July	—Jubilee events are held to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the national press.
12 August	—The Central Election Commission restores the Khankenda constituency.
29 August	—Public TV is ceremoniously set up.
19 October	—A series of arrests of ministers and other top bureaucrats accused of cooperating with the opposition in planning a coup begins.
25 October	—The president signs a decision On Urgent Measures Related to the Election Campaign and Elections.
26 October	—The Central Election Commission passes a decision on marking fingers of the voters to avoid double voting.
28 October	—The Milli Mejlis lifts a ban on observation of the voting procedure for NGOs by introducing corresponding measures into the Law on NGOs.
6 November	—Election to the Milli Mejlis.
10 November	—The New Azerbaijan Party organizes a rally to celebrate its victory in the election.
10 November	—The opposition announces the setting up of the National Resistance Movement to recognize the election as illegitimate and annul its results.
21 November	—A Republican Forum of Candidates recognizes that the election was democratic.
1 December	—The Constitutional Court approves of the election results.
16 December	—The government sets up two new ministries—the Ministry of the Military-Industrial Complex and the Emergencies Ministry.

Georgia

3 February	—Premier Zurab Zhvania dies.
10 May	—U.S. President George W. Bush visits Georgia.
30 May	—Foreign ministers of the RF and Georgia sign an agreement on the withdrawal of Russian military bases from Georgia.
July	—A uniform national exam is introduced.
1 October	—Parliamentary elections are held in several majority constituencies.
19 October	—Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili resigns.
22-23 November	—Celebrations of the anniversary of the Rose Revolution sweep the country.

Republic of Kazakhstan

6 January	—The Bostandyk Inter-District Specialized Economic Court of Almaty issues a decision on liquidating the People’s Party Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (PP DCK).
20 January	—About 40 members of the religious extremist organization Hizb ut-Tahrir are arrested in Almaty.
26 January	—Presentation of a draft of the new Constitution by the Coordinating Council of the Democratic Forces of Kazakhstan (CCDFK).
29 January	—Regular congresses of the Communist Party and the Democratic Ak Zhol Party of Kazakhstan pass resolutions condemning the authorities’ move against the opposition.
9 February	—The Almaty City Court confirms the decision of the court of lower instance on liquidation of the PP DCK.
9 February	—The RK parliament passes draft laws On Opposing Extremist Activities and On Amending and Changing Certain Legal Acts Related to Opposing Extremist Activities.
14 February	—An opposition youth movement Kakhar is set up patterned on the Ukrainian Pora.
18 February	—Address to the Nation by the President of the RK for 2005.
2 March	—Presidential decree on reorganization of the RK Agency for Fighting Economic Crimes and Corruption into a state body subordinated directly to the president.
11 March	—The National Commission for Democratization and Civil Society meets in Uralsk.
13 March	—The 5th Congress of the Democratic Ak Zhol Party of Kazakhstan annuls the institution of cochairmen and elects A. Baymenov as the only chairman. The opposition camp splits.
20 March	—The For a Fair Kazakhstan bloc elects Zh. Tuiakbay, the single opposition candidate, as chairman of the CCDFK.
25 March	—Nursultan Nazarbaev addresses the Congress of Businessmen of Kazakhstan.
25 March	—Joint press conference of the Civil Party and the Agrarian Party of Kazakhstan in the wake of the events in Kyrgyzstan, at which they announce their resolution “to take to arms to defend sovereignty and the freedom of choice of the Kazakhstani people.”
29 March	—The National Commission for Democratization and Civil Society meet in Astana.
29 March	—Members of the initiative group announce the creation of the party Alga, DCK! as a successor of the PP DCK.
6 April	—President of the RK signs a decree On Organizing Report-Back Meetings of Heads of Local Executive Structures with the People.
6 April	—The People’s Front of Kazakhstan Kazak Memleketi (the Kazakh State), a national-patriotic movement, meets for its constituent congress and elects Karishal Asan-ata its president.
12 April	—The 5th Congress of the Patriots’ Party of Kazakhstan.
15 April	—Presidential decree On Measures to Intensify Corruption Fighting and Strengthen Discipline and Order in the State Structures and Among Civil Servants is published.
17 April	—President of the RK signs the Law on Amending and Changing the Constitutional Law on Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
18 April	—B. Zhumagulov and A. Zholshybekov are appointed deputy chairmen of the Otan Party with B. Zhumagulov made acting chairman.
28 April	—The presidential decree On Forming a Council of Businessmen under the RK President is published.
29 April	—The first (constituent) congress of the Genuine Ak Zhol Party is held.
29 April	—Former cochairmen A. Sarsenbaev, B. Abilov, and O. Zhandosov are excluded from the Ak Zhol Party.
1 May	—An incident in Shymkent where the opponents of the opposition organized a pogrom in the Tourist Hotel where the movement For a Fair Kazakhstan held its constituent conference.
3 May	—The President of the RK signs the Code of Honor of Civil Servants.
4 May	—The presidential decree On Measures for More Extensive Use of the Potential of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan is published, extending the rights and functions of the parliament.
12 May	—The Majilis passes a Law on Amending and Changing Certain Legal Acts of the RK Related to National Security Issues.
26 May	—A meeting of the National Commission for Democratization and Civil Society supports President Nazarbaev’s initiative about stage-by-stage elections of the akims.
7 June	—The Republican Asar Party and the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan form a coalition called the People’s Union of Kazakhstan for Democracy and adopt new Programs and new Rules.
7 June	—A new public and political movement Bolashak is set up.
8 June	—The Medeu District Court of Almaty rules that Z. Nurkadilov is guilty of public encroachment on the honor and dignity of the RK president and imposed a fine of 485,500 tenges on him.
9 June	—A meeting is held by the RK president and attended by members of his administration, the government, parliament, and the akims of the regions and the cities of Almaty and Astana to discuss carrying out the tasks formulated in the 2005 Address to the Nation.
13 June	—The Medeu District Court of Almaty partly accepts the claim of the Joint-Stock Company Khabar Agency against A. Sarsenbaev and imposes a fine of 1m tenges on him.
15 June	—The Majilis passes laws On the Activity of the Branches and Representative Offices (independent structures) of International and Foreign Non-Commercial Organizations on the Territory of the RK and On Amending and Changing Certain Legal Acts of the RK Related to Non-Commercial Organizations.
17 June	—Decision of the RK Central Election Commission on carrying out experimental elections of district akims on 12 August.
21 June	—Decision of the RK Central Election Commission to hold elections to the Senate on 19 August.
30 June	—The parliament closes its session.
1 July	—Raising of pensions, wages, and scholarships according to the 2005 Address to the Nation.
7 July	—The RK Constitutional Council accepts for discussion an inquiry by a group of deputies about the date for the presidential election.
8 July	—President of the RK signs the Law on Amending and Changing Certain Legal Acts of the RK Related to National Security Issues.
9 July	—Draft Conception of the Development of Civil Society in the Republic of Kazakhstan (2006-2011) prepared by the National Commission for Democratization and Civil Society is published.
23 July	—Constituent Congress of the Alga! Party (earlier People’s Party Alga, DCK!).
27 July	—An organizing committee for setting up a national-patriotic movement Ult Tagdyry (the Fate of Nation) is held.
2 August	—The RK Ministry of Justice registers the public association For a Fair Kazakhstan.
12 August	—Experimental elections of district akims.
19 August	—Elections to the Senate.
19 August	—The RK Constitutional Council makes public its decision on the date of the presidential election.
24 August	—RK President Nazarbaev addresses the nation on TV.
1 September	—The RK parliament opens its session.
7 September	—The Majilis sets 4 December, 2005 as the date for the presidential election.
9 September	—The 8th Congress of the Otan Party nominates Nazarbaev its presidential candidate.
9 September	—The presidential decree On Measures to Realize the Rights of RK Citizens to Free, Fair, and Competitive Elections is made public.
12-13 September	—The Second Civil Forum.
13 September	—The Congress of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan supports the nomination of Nazarbaev as presidential candidate.
14 September	—The People’s Coalition of Kazakhstan is set up to support Nazarbaev; the extraordinary congress of the Asar Party nominates Nazarbaev presidential candidate.
16 September	—The Republican Public Headquarters set up to support Nazarbaev.
23 September	—The 6th Congress of the Civil Party of Kazakhstan nominates Nazarbaev presidential candidate.
23 September	—The 6th Congress of Peasant Social-Democratic Auyl Party (PSDP) decides to join the People’s Coalition of Kazakhstan.
25 September	—The 6th Congress of the Democratic Ak Zhol Party of Kazakhstan nominates A. Baymenov presidential candidate.
26 September	—The 7th Congress of the Patriots’ Party of Kazakhstan decides to support Nazarbaev.
27 September	—The 6th Congress of the Agrarian Party of Kazakhstan nominates Nazarbaev presidential candidate.
29 September	—The leading media adopts a Charter “For Fair Elections.”
7 October	—The Central Election Commission registers N. Nazarbaev as presidential candidate.
8 October	—An unsanctioned meeting of the opposition in Almaty is dispersed.
11 October	—The Central Election Commission calls all participants in the election process to carry out fair and open elections.
24 October	—The Central Election Commission closes the procedure for registering presidential candidates.
25 October	—Official election campaign begins.
28 October	—The 2nd Congress of the Businessmen of Kazakhstan.
31 October	—The 31st Congress of the Federation of the Trade Unions of Kazakhstan.
13 November	—Z. Nurkadilov is found dead.
17 November	—TV debates of the presidential candidates.
21 November	—The Central Headquarters of presidential candidate Zh. Tuiakbay announces that it rejects non-constitutional methods.
4 December	—Election of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
6 December	—The Central Election Commission officially announces the election results.
6 December	—The Democratic Union of the People’s Coalition of Kazakhstan is set up.
14 December	—The Ekibastuz City Court rules that G. Zhakianov, one of the opposition ideologists, be freed on parole.
16 December	—The Republican Ecological Party Menin Kazakhstanym (My Kazakhstan) holds its constituent congress.

Kyrgyz Republic

January	—The “yellow opposition” organizes its first demonstrations in Bishkek.
27 February	—The first round of the parliamentary election is held.
4 March	—Supporters of the defeated candidates seize the regional administration building in Dzhalal-Abad. Confrontation between the government and the opposition begins.
13 March	—Second round of the parliamentary election is held.
15 March	—The people’s Kurultai meets in Dzhalal-Abad; synchronized civil disobedience actions sweep the republic.
24 March	—The opposition seizes the Government House in Bishkek. Askar Akaev is deposed by force.
Small hours of 25 March	—Mass plundering of shops in the capital.
25 March	—The parliament appoints Kurmanbek Bakiev premier and acting president of the Kyrgyz Republic.
4 April	—Akaev signs his resignation in Moscow. The new parliament sets the date for an off-year presidential election (10 July).
29 April	—The first convocation of the Constitutional Assembly begins working on changes and amendments to the Constitution.
13 May	—K. Bakiev and F. Kulov sign an agreement on an election tandem.
10 June	—Parliamentary deputy Zh. Surabaldiev is assassinated. N. Motuev and his supporters take the country’s largest coal strip mine, Kara-Keche, by force.
17 June	—Supporters of U. Baryktabasov, who failed to register as a presidential candidate, gather for a rally and take the Government House by storm. Law enforcement bodies suppress them and drive them out of the building.
10 July	—Bakiev wins the off-year presidential election.
19 September	—Prosecutor General A. Beknazarov is removed from his post.
20 September	—Parliamentary deputy B. Erkinbaev is assassinated.
13 October	—The Constitutional Assembly of the second convocation, enlarged to 275 people on President Bakiev’s initiative, begins its work. Some of the NGOs and public organizations criticize it, suspecting that the enlargement was designed to create a pocket Constitutional Assembly.
20 October	—Parliamentary deputy T. Akmatbaev and his retinue are murdered in Correctional Labor Colony No. 31.
20 October	—Another round of political crisis begins. Brother of murdered deputy R. Akmatbaev, who is well known in the criminal world, puts pressure on the government. He demands that Felix Kulov, allegedly guilty of his brother’s death, should be punished. Kulov’s supporters interpret this as an attempt by the criminal community to seize power in the country.
11 November	—The Constitutional Assembly finishes its work on the draft Constitution and offers it for nationwide discussion.
25 December	—Discussion of the new constitution ends.

Republic of Tajikistan

14 January	—The Central Election Commission refuses to register DPT leader M. Iskandarov and leader of Tarakkiet Party S. Kuvvatov as candidates.
31 January	—A terrorist act at the Emergencies Ministry kills one person and damages a neighboring building.
27 February	—The parliamentary election is held.
28 February	—President E. Rakhmonov chairs a regular cabinet sitting (Dushanbe).
1 March	—The Central Election Commission announces the election results to the parliament’s lower chamber.
25 March	—President E. Rakhmonov appoints eight members of the parliament’s upper chamber of the third convocation.
11 April	—RT Public Prosecutor General B. Bobokhonov holds a press conference at which he accuses DPT leader M. Iskandarov of several crimes (Dushanbe).
14 April	—The Foreign Ministry asks all diplomatic missions and offices of international organizations in Tajikistan to inform it about their public meetings with parties, public organizations, and the media.
25 April	—The Supreme Court of the Republic of Tajikistan sentences former Minister of the Interior Ia. Salimov to 15 years in a strict regime colony.
26 April	—The Public Prosecutor General announces at a press conference that DPT leader M. Iskandarov was detained and placed in the Ministry of Security detention center.
3 May	—The Democratic Party suspends its participation in the republic’s Public Council.
4 May	—The IRPT discontinues its activity in the Public Council.
8 May	—President E. Rakhmonov participates in a CIS summit (Moscow).
10 May	—The Communist Party suspends its work in the Dushanbe Branch of the Public Council to protest against falsifications of the election results.
13 May	—Former commander of the Presidential Guard G. Mirzoev is accused under more than 170 articles of the Criminal Code.
19 May	—Russian border guards transfer the valley stretch of the Moscow Border Guard Detachment to their Tajik colleagues.
14 June	—The RT Supreme Court begins a closed court trial on R. Fayziev, deputy chairman of the unregistered Tarakkiet Party.
18 June	—The presidents of Tajikistan and Afghanistan take part in the ceremony for laying the first stone at the base of the bridge across the border River Panj.
24 June	—The CIS defense ministers meet for their regular meeting (Dushanbe).
28 June	—The RT Supreme Court sentences R. Fayziev, deputy chairman of the unregistered Tarakkiet Party, to 5 years and 10 months in a strict regime colony.
11 August	—The Center for Defending Media Rights opens in Dushanbe.
24 August	—The court of the Firdavsi District of Dushanbe sentences M. Bokizoda, director of the Kaykhon printshop and Editor-in-Chief of the Nerui sukhan newspaper, to 2 years of correctional labor and to pay a fine of 20 percent of his earnings to the budget (Dushanbe).
13 September	—Defense Minister of China Cao Gangchuan arrives in Dushanbe on his first official visit.
19 September	—The Party of Economic Reforms holds its constituent congress (Dushanbe).
20 September	—U.S. Ambassador to the Tajikistan Richard Hoagland informs journalists that the United States does not plan to set up a military base or deploy its military contingent in Tajikistan.
21 September	—A delegation of the U.S. Defense Department arrives in the republic to discuss nuclear non-proliferation issues and measures designed to prevent transit of WMD and its components through Tajik territory.
28 September	—The public prosecutor demands that DPT Chairman M. Iskandarov be sentenced to 25 years in prison, deprived of his rank of major general and the “Spitamen” state order.
29 September	—Heads of the law enforcement bodies of Tajikistan and Afghanistan sign the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding on Issues of Joint Border Patrol.
1 October	—The Agrarian Party of Tajikistan holds its constituent congress (Dushanbe).
5 October	—Robert Joseph, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, arrives in Dushanbe to discuss security issues with President Rakhmonov.
5 October	—DPT Chairman M. Iskandarov is sentenced to 23 years in prison.
9 October	—A 25-year-old woman is killed in a blast at the Emergencies Ministry (Dushanbe).
14 October	—The foreign ministries of Russia and Tajikistan exchange notes under which citizens of Tajikistan acquire the right to travel to Russia on their internal passports starting on 1 November.
17 October	—The authorities discuss the original draft amendments to the laws On the Press and On TV and Radio Broadcasting.
20 October	—The Council of CIS Border Guard Commanders holds its meeting in Dushanbe.
26 October	—The Social-Democratic Party announces that it will begin consultations with other political organizations of the republic on their participation in the upcoming presidential election.
27 October	—Following a corresponding meeting, Premier of Tajikistan Akil Akilov is appointed Chairman of the Council of SCO Heads of State (Moscow).
16 November	—The Ministry of Justice registers the Agrarian Party.
23 November	—The laws On the Press and On TV and Radio Broadcasting are amended. The publishers are bound by an obligation to submit all fresh issues of their periodicals (before distribution, including those distributed free of charge) to the government for examination under the threat of punishment.
22 December	—A republican conference on education is held and declares education an issue of strategic importance.

Turkmenistan

9 January	—Second round of the parliamentary election in seven constituencies takes place.
12 January	—Memorial Day of the Defenders of the Geoktepe Fortress.
1-2 February	—First session of the new (third) convocation of the Mejlis meets.
22 February	—President Niyazov’s eye surgery.
7 April	—The decree on convocation of Khalk Maslakhaty is published; its agenda includes the question of ways and trends in improving society at the present stage of the country’s development.
18 April	—The Law on Amending and Changing the Family Code is published.
28 April	—The president’s decision On Improving the Procedure for Selling Apartments in High Comfort and Improved Planning Residential Buildings at the Expense of Ministries and Departments is published.
5 May	—“Kuvvatly Vatan” military exercises.
20, 31 May and	—New rounds of purges in the top echelons of power.
12 August
22 August	—The president decides to reorganize the fuel and energy complex.
22 August	—The decree banning the use of phonograms at song and music events is published.
12 September	—New exhibition complex is opened in Ashghabad.
6 October	—Decrees on personnel purges among the khiakims of velaiats and etraps are adopted.
15 October	—New book by the country’s president is presented in Ashghabad.
24 October	—New foreign passport for the citizens of Turkmenistan is approved.
24-25 October	—The 16th session of Khalk Maslakhaty.
25 October	—New banknotes of 5,000 and 10,000 manats are issued.
31 October	—Another official supervisor in the oil-and-gas complex is fired.
18 November	—The 900th resident of Ashghabad, the republic’s capital, is born.
30 November	—The president holds a meeting to discuss reforms in the oil-and-gas complex.
6-7 December	—The Mejlis adopts the 2006 budget and new versions of the laws On Hydrocarbon Resources, On Licensing Some Types of Activity, On State Awards of Turkmenistan, On Normative Legal Acts, and On Migration.
15 December	—Personnel reshuffling in the fuel and energy complex.
16 December	—The country marks the 14th anniversary of the Democratic Party, the only one in the country.
20 December	—The Turkmenneftegaz Corporation is abolished.

Republic of Uzbekistan

9 January	—The second round of the parliamentary election is held; 58 more deputies are elected to the legislative (lower) chamber of the Oliy Majlis (parliament).
14 January	—The Day of the Motherland Defender is celebrated.
14 January	—Nezavisimaia gazeta (Russia) carries an interview with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov entitled “Under the Empire We were Dismissed as Inferior People.”
17-20 January	—84 senators are elected to the upper chamber of the Oliy Majlis.
24 January	—The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan appoints, by his decree, 16 more senators from among the most prominent state and public figures.
24 January	—The Second Plenary Session of the SDP Political Council elects D. Tashmukhammedova as leader of the party.
28 January	—The first joint session of both chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the third convocation meets to listen to President Karimov.
7 February	—The head of state meets the new cabinet appointed by the Oliy Majlis.
14 February	—Three parliamentary factions—the LDPU, National Democratic Fidokorlar Party, and SDP Adolat—form the Democratic Bloc in the legislative chamber.
16 February	—The PDPU leaders hold a press conference to announce the party an opposition party of the minority, the left wing of all reformist forces, participant in a healthy faction struggle, and supporter of political pluralism and parliamentary competitiveness.
19 March	—The Fifth Plenary Session of the LDPU Political Council elects M. Teshabaev as the party’s new leader.
21 March	—Nationwide celebration of Navruz.
22 April	—A special session of the Tashkent city Kengash of People’s Deputies elects A. Tukhtaev as khokim of Tashkent.
3 May	—A press conference is held in the National Press Center on the occasion of the World Day of Free Press.
9 May	—The Day of Memory and Honors is celebrated.
13 May	—A riot takes place in Andijan.
18 May	—A press conference about the Andijan events for Uzbek and foreign journalists and diplomats attended by the head of state is held at the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
20 May	—The first national Civil Forum sets up the National Association of the Nongovernmental Non-Commercial Organizations of Uzbekistan (NANNOUz).
6 June	—The U.S. Peace Corps suspends its activities in Uzbekistan.
10 June	—The president receives a delegation of the best Russian political technologists headed by V. Nikonov, leader of the Politika Foundation.
16-17 June	—The head of state goes to the Surkhandaria and Kashkadaria regions on a working visit.
25 June	—The Special Third LDPU Congress is held.
2 July	—The Fifth PDPU Congress is held.
9 July	—The Third Plenary Session of the PDPU Central Council elects L. Guliamov, head of the Tashkent party organization, as the party’s leader.
1 August	—A presidential decree On Abolition of the Death Penalty is issued.
8 August	—A presidential decree On Transferring to Courts the Right to Sanction Arrests is issued.
19 August	—The head of state meets the leaders of the parliamentary factions.
26 August	—The Senate meets for its plenary session to discuss withdrawal of American troops from the airbase in Khanabad.
27 August	—The annual International “Shark Taronalari” Music Festival is held in Samarkand.
27 August	—The Senate issues its statement on use by the U.S. of the Khanabad airbase.
1 September	—Independence Day is celebrated.
5 September	—A parliamentary commission for investigating the Andijan events meets for the first time.
20 September	—The court meets for an open sitting to discuss the criminal case of the terrorist acts and other crimes committed on 12-13 May, 2005.
21-22 September	—The head of state goes to the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm Region on a working visit.
1 October	—Teacher and Tutor Day is celebrated.
21 October	—Day of the Law on the State Language is celebrated; RF Foreign Minister S. Lavrov addresses the students of the Tashkent University of World Economy and Diplomacy.
7 November	—A special session of the Tashkent Regional Kengash of People’s Deputies elects M. Kuchchiev as khokim of the region.
8 November	—The Board of Guardians of the Development of Children’s Sport Foundation meets under the chairmanship of the head of state.
8 December	—Members of the Tashkent public meet to celebrate Constitution Day. The head of state declares 2006 the Year of Charity and the Medical Profession.
17 December	—A party conference (congress) of the SDP Adolat is held.